Backend Banter #069 - Season Finale: The Boot.dev Origin Story w/ Allan
Sep 2, 2024
Allan Lires, the first official employee of Boot.dev, shares the inspiring origin story of the tech platform. He recounts the early days, highlighting the challenges faced and milestones achieved in building Boot.dev. The conversation dives into the evolution of its curriculum, emphasizing the importance of practical skills in programming. Allan discusses the shift from gamification to a more robust learning experience, setting realistic expectations for learners. Listeners gain insights into the future vision of Boot.dev and the impact of community feedback on its growth.
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Allan's Hiring Story
- Allan was hired after being introduced via mutual friends and a Discord message about a side project internship.
- His prior Vue experience in college aligned well with Boot.dev's tech, though he lacked Go experience.
Boot.dev Early Growth Insight
- Boot.dev began as a side project in early 2020 with just a few courses, growing slowly for 18 months.
- It became clear the platform needed full-time commitment to accelerate growth and development.
Set Honest Learning Expectations
- Set realistic expectations on how long it takes to learn coding, around nine to twelve months of significant effort.
- Encouraging honesty helps students stick with learning and ultimately get jobs.